Leavel Joins Young Frankenstein One Week Early

Tony Award winner Beth Leavel will join the cast of Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein as Frau Blucher on Tuesday, July 15, one week earlier than previously announced. She joins a company which includes Roger Bart(Fredrick Frankenstein), Megan Mullally (Elizabeth), Shuler Hensley (The Monster), Fred Applegate (Inspector Kemp/ Blind Hermit), Christopher Fitzgerald (Igor) and Kelly Sullivan (Inga). Original cast member Andrea Martin played her final performance as Frau Blucher on Sunday, July 6. Young Frankenstein plays at Broadway's Hilton Theatre (213 W. 42nd Street). For tickets and information, visit Ticketmaster.com or call (212) 307-4100.

Young Frankenstein was named Best Broadway Musical 2008 by the Outer Critics Circle Award and won 5 Broadway.com Audience Awards, including Favorite New Broadway Musical.

Clive Barnes of the New York Post called Young Frankenstein, "the Broadway musical at its dizziest, glitziest and funniest" while Pat Collins of MY 9 News declaredYoung Frankenstein "a monster hit." Jeffrey Lyons of WNBC TV said "this riotously funny musical will knock you clear across 42nd Street" and Roger Friedman of Fox News called it simply, "utter genius."

Beth Leavel (Frau Blucher) most recently received the 2006 Tony Award, Drama Desk, N.Y. Outer Critics Circle Award and the L.A. Drama Critics Award for her performance as The Drowsy Chaperone in The Drowsy Chaperone.  Other Broadway credits include Dorothy Brock in the revival of 42nd Street; Tess in the original company of Crazy For You (with Susan Stroman); Mrs. Bixby in The Civil War; Ellie in Hal Prince's Showboat, and Anytime Annie (her Broadway debut) in 42nd Street.  Ms. Leavel was also seen in City Center's production of No No Nanette. Numerous Off-Broadway, commercial and T.V. appearances! MFA from UNC-G and proud member of Actor's Equity.

Based on the Oscar-nominated smash hit 1974 film, Young Frankenstein is the wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Mary Shelley classic from the comic genius of Mel Brooks.  When Frederick Frankenstein, an esteemed New York brain surgeon and professor, inherits a castle and laboratory in Transylvania from his grandfather, deranged genius Victor Von Frankenstein, he faces a dilemma.  Does he continue to run from his family's tortured past or does he stay in Transylvania to carry on his grandfather's mad experiments reanimating the dead  and, in the process,  fall in love with his sexy lab assistant Inga?

Unfolding in the forbidding Castle Frankenstein and the foggy moors of Transylvania Heights, the show's raucous score includes "The Transylvania Mania," "He Vas My Boyfriend" and the unforgettable treatment of Irving Berlin's "Puttin' On the Ritz."

For information, visit YoungFrankensteinTheMusical.com. 

Photo Credit Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.